VibrantNation.com is an information website for older women. Its editorial director, Susan Lee Ward, works hard and produces a lot of the content herself. But she doesn't exist. She's a profile under which the other site authors publish. Susan Lee Ward is "a summation of what our members tell us about themselves", so she serves as the embodiment of the site's target market.
Virtual employees could be everywhere on the web, even here. For example, if Alex Santoso, the "owner" of Neatorama, didn't exist -- if he was just a virtual construct -- how would you know?
As workplaces move increasingly online, expect more of this practice.
Article Link and Vibrant Nation Staff Page -via Glenn Reynolds
The theory was that people were less likely to yell at a female so putting a female name on the bottom of a collection letter would keep them a little calmer.